Free Trapped by Laurie Halse Anderson Page A

landing any more punches.
    It works.
    Sort of.
    The only problem is that instead of hitting Billy, Sage hits me.
    Right in the mouth.
    â€œOw!” I step back with my hand to my lip, which is already swelling. I can taste blood.
    Sage freezes in place. “Oh, no! Brenna, are you all right?” he asks. “I’m so sorry!” He lowers his fists, looking shocked.
    Billy sits down on the ground with a thump and a groan.
    â€œSage Lake!” Dr. Mac shouts, running down off the porch. “How could you?” Sunita, Maggie, Zoe, and David are right behind her. They must have heard all the yelling.
    Dr. Mac puts her arm around me and leads me back to the steps. “Brenna, are you OK? Sit down here. If you feel faint, put your head between your legs.” She touches my face all over, very gently, checking for injuries. Then she gestures for Maggie to come sit next to me while she checks on Billy.
    â€œAre you all right?” Maggie asks me quietly.
    I nod. “Just a fat lip, that’s all.” It sure is fat. I can barely talk.
    Billy tells Dr. Mac he’s OK, too. But he’s holding his arm, and there’s dirt all over his face.
    â€œI don’t know what’s come over you,” Dr. Mac says, turning toward Sage. “Your parents would be shocked to see this.”
    Sage has the decency to look guilty. And a little scared. “Are you going to tell them?” he asks her, ducking his head.
    â€œNo,” says Dr. Mac.
    Sage looks relieved.
    â€œYou are,” she finishes.
    Sage groans and throws up his hands. “Oh, man! I know I lost it a little. But this guy deserves—”
    â€œViolence is never an answer,” Dr. Mac cuts in. “Plain and simple. And your sister certainly didn’t deserve to get hit.” She shakes her head and turns to go back inside. “I’ll get Brenna an ice pack for her lip. Then you’re going to drive her and Billy both home. Can you do that, Sage? No talking, no fighting, just straight home. Then you can clue your parents in to exactly what kind of day you had.”
    Sage looks defeated. I know he thinks a lot of Dr. Mac. It must be hard to have her so mad at him. And he absolutely won’t meet my eyes.
    â€œAnd don’t forget to tell them they’ll have a new guest coming to stay in a couple of days,” Dr. Mac says over her shoulder. “It looks like the fawn is going to make it.” Then she heads back inside, shepherding my friends along with her.
    Maggie turns to look back at me. “Call me,” she mouths, holding a pretend phone to her ear.

    I climb into the truck first so Billy doesn’t have to sit next to Sage. Sage starts the ignition and drives off. Nobody says a single word.
    Sage pulls into Billy’s driveway, behind a rusty old white car that must be Billy’s mom’s. Billy opens the door and hops out. He’s still holding on to his arm. I roll down my window. “Bye,” I say.
    â€œSee you,” he answers. “And ... thanks.”
    I’m not sure what he’s thanking me for. The ride? The lecture on the evils of trapping? The fact that I didn’t let my big brother beat him to a pulp?
    â€œYou’re welcome,” is all I can think to say.
    Sage guns the engine before the words are all the way out of my mouth, and he speeds out of the driveway.
    â€œSage,” I say, as soon as we’re back on the road. “What is up with you?”
    â€œUp?” he asks, as if he doesn’t know what I’m talking about.
    â€œYou never used to be this way.” I look out my window, away from his sullen face.
    â€œWell, maybe I am now. Maybe you’ll just have to get used to it.” I glance over at him and see that he’s gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles are white.
    I refuse to accept his answer. I’m not ready to give up my brother in exchange for this stranger. “Come on, Sage. Billy